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5 Feb 2007 : Column 673W—continued


5 Feb 2007 : Column 674W

Nuclear Weapons

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the UK's plans for the replacement of Trident for the negotiations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty on nuclear disarmament. [118613]

Dr. Howells: The Government are strongly committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The White Paper on the Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent makes clear that renewing our minimum nuclear deterrent capability is fully consistent with all our international obligations, including under the NPT. It is also consistent with our continuing commitment to work towards a safer world in which there is no requirement for nuclear weapons.

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had on (a) enforcement and (b) enhancement of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. [118948]

Dr. Howells: The UK is committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as the cornerstone of the international non-proliferation regime. The unanimous adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737 on Iran was an important indication of the international community's determination to enforce the NPT whenever and wherever it is challenged. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was involved in a number of important discussions in the negotiation of this resolution. The current NPT review cycle runs from 2007 to 2010. The UK will be fully involved in discussions to achieve an outcome at the review conference in 2010 which effectively enhances the NPT.

Overseas Convictions and Arrests

Mr. Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2007, Official Report, column 1405W, on overseas convictions and arrests, to which agency information on foreign offences was submitted prior to the establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Agency. [117771]

Dr. Howells: Prior to the establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office notified the National Criminal Intelligence Service where we were aware of a British national being arrested or convicted of a serious crime overseas.

Palestine

Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of progress by the Palestinian Authority towards the requirements set out by the Middle East Quartet in its statement of 30 January 2006. [112534]


5 Feb 2007 : Column 675W

Margaret Beckett: We remain deeply concerned that neither the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, nor Hamas as a movement, have committed to the Quartet’s (EU, US, UN and Russia) three principles: to renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept all previous agreements and obligations.

As we have indicated before, we are ready to work with any Palestinian Government based on the Quartet conditions. So far, Hamas has continued to reject these. In the meantime, we will continue to support President Abbas’ efforts to improve the safety, security and prosperity of the Palestinian people.

Saudi Arabia

Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next round of the Two Kingdoms Dialogue with Saudi Arabia is to be held. [117659]

Margaret Beckett: We are currently discussing with Saudi Arabia the dates for the next Two Kingdoms Dialogue. We hope that this event will be held around October 2007.

Sri Lanka

Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has received on peace talks between the Tamil rebels and the Sri Lankan Government held in Geneva in 2006; and if she will make a statement. [118580]

Dr. Howells: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in London and at our high commission in Colombo have regular contact with individuals and groups in the UK and Sri Lanka representing the views of Sri Lanka’s Tamil population. In December 2006 and in January this year I met with representatives of the Tamil community for discussions on the peace process and the situation in Sri Lanka. In addition, I receive and reply to many written representations made by hon. Members on behalf of their Tamil constituents.

We urge the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to return to the negotiating table and to work to prevent further deterioration of the security situation and the needless loss of more lives. It is essential that both sides commit to the cease-fire agreement and demonstrate this by acting to stop the violence, human rights abuses and bloodshed. The only viable route to a peaceful resolution of the Sri Lanka conflict is at the negotiating table. We fully support the role of the Norwegian Government in facilitating negotiations in furtherance of the peace process.

Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Sri Lankan Government on the Tamil population of Sri Lanka. [118581]


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Dr. Howells: On 10 January, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, who has responsibility for human rights in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, reiterated the Government’s concerns about human rights in Sri Lanka to Rohitha Bogollagama, the then Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion when they met during his visit to London. Minister Bogollagama has recently been appointed as the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister.

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, Gareth Thomas, raised humanitarian, political and human rights with Minister Bogollagama when they also met on 10 January.

Northern Ireland

Advertising Campaigns

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what advertising campaigns his Department has run since July 2004; and what the (a) date and (b) cost was of each. [115690]

Mr. Hain: The Northern Ireland Office has run the following advertising campaigns since July 2004:

Campaign Date Cost (£)

Are you a victim of the Troubles Campaign

March 2005

43,762.00

Theft from Vehicles Campaign

15 November to 31 December 2004

88,918.96

Unknown Callers TV advertisement

6 to 28 June 2005

56,597.00

Theft from Vehicles Campaign

13 to 26 June 2005

15,146.41

Community Safety Week

20 to 24 June 2005

26,196.00

Unknown Callers TV advertisement

13 October to 16 November 2005

58,338.29

Theft from Vehicles Campaign

21 November 2005 to 1 January 2006

71,219.16

Recruitment for Chairman and membership of the Parades Commission

July 2005

37,873.88

Recruitment for membership of the Parades Commission

November 2006

16,902.51

Domestic Violence media campaign(1)

August 2006, January 2007

50,000.00

Knife Carrying Campaign(1)

May 2006, December 2006

58,000.00

Total

522,954.21

(1) The Northern Ireland Office jointly funded these two campaigns with DHSSPS and PSNI. The amounts shown are the NIO's contributions to the campaigns.

British Food

Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of food served in buildings occupied by his Department was of British origin in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. [111130]

Mr. Hain: This information is not recorded and therefore it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.


5 Feb 2007 : Column 677W

Bus Services: Comber

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the level of absenteeism was of Translink staff working on the number 11 service in the past 12 months. [117731]

David Cairns: Translink has advised that this information is not available for a specific service, or indeed for the Comber sub-depot which operates service 11. Translink has, however, provided information on the level of absenteeism in the parent depot at Great Victoria Street, Belfast.

In the period 1 December 2005 to 30 November 2006 the overall percentage of absenteeism was 9.18 per cent.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints Translink has received about the number 11 service to Comber. [117732]

David Cairns: Translink has advised that information is not available for the number 11 service alone. However, from 1 January 2006 until 31 December 2006, a total of 40 complaints were received regarding the two services which operate between Belfast and Comber (services 11 and 511).

Electoral Administration Act

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (Commencement No. 2, Transitional and Savings Provision) Order 2006 did not bring into force the reduction of the candidacy age to 18 in Northern Ireland. [112168]

Mr. Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) (Table Office reference 110918).

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the provisions of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 on the minimum age of candidates were not brought into effect in Northern Ireland in time for the forthcoming Assembly election; and if he will make a statement. [110918]

Mr. Hanson: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced on 29 January, the Government will shortly be commencing section 17 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 in Northern Ireland. This will bring the position in Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the United Kingdom by allowing 18-year-olds to stand for election. This will be in force in Northern Ireland in time for 18-year-olds who are eligible to stand as candidates to do so at the forthcoming Northern Ireland Assembly election.

Electoral Register

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many additional voters were added to the Electoral Register in each Northern
5 Feb 2007 : Column 678W
Ireland constituency between the publication of the current registers and 11 January 2007. [110511]

Mr. Hanson: The following table shows an overall increase from December 2006 to the current register, which will be in use for the forthcoming March election, of 3.8 per cent. This is an addition of 40,849 names to the electoral register.

Constituency Register 1 December 2006 Revised register February 2007 Percentage change December 2006-February 2007

Belfast, East

48,570

50,053

+3.1

Belfast, North

47,369

49,629

+4.8

Belfast, South

47,190

49,177

+4.2

Belfast, West

45,923

51,057

+11.2

East Antrim

55,658

57,025

+2.5

East Londonderry

55,056

56,491

+2.6

Fermanagh and South Tyrone

64,039

66,410

+3.7

Foyle

62,521

65,430

+4.7

Lagan Valley

68,430

70,654

+3.3

Mid Ulster

59,358

61,783

+4.1

Newry and Armagh

68,812

71,387

+3.7

North Antrim

70,868

73,332

+3.5

North Down

56,420

57,947

+2.7

South Antrim

63,983

66,046

+3.2

South Down

69,951

72,340

+3.4

Strangford

65,504

67,158

+2.5

Upper Bann

69,588

71,244

+2.4

West Tyrone

55,876

58,802

+5.2

Total

1,075116

1,115965

+3.8


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